Steering knuckle lubrication



Dec; 20, 1932. T. R. THOMAS STEERING lKNUGKLE LUBRICATION 2 Sheets-Sheet n l Original Filed Sept. 28, 1925 Dec. 20, 1932. T. R. THOMAS l STEERING KNUGKLE LUBRICATION Original Filed Sept. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet y INVENTOR 'omam R. 720mm EY QMS/h @KW-f #.M.

i ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. zo, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

THOMAS R. THOMAS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TOV AUTO'r RESEARCH CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Y p j STEERING KNUCKLE LUBRTCATION originan application ined september 2s, 1925, serial No. 59,002. Divided and this applicati@ inea .Tune 8, 1929. Serial No. 369,398,

t My present invention is concerned with gravity flow systems and has a preferred application in association with pressurelubricat-ing systems, more particularly for delivering lubricant by gravity 'flow from a pressure line-to the bearing or bearings of a structure having a swiveled or other movable connec-v tion to the structure carrying the pressure line, and especially where it is undesirable to convey the lubricant under pressure past or across such swivel or other connection.

The invention has a preferred application to the lubrication of the steering knuckles of a motor vehicle and the broad object of de- 3 livering lubricant reliably to various knuckle bearings and without the need for selective manipulation, nor the use of auxiliary swivels or of flapping conduits or other parts likely to become ldamaged in use, and whichA will,

33 moreover, preclude the entryof dust to the bearing surfaces;

Among the more specilc'objects of the invention are to apply a lubricating installation of the character set forth to an axle and .knuckle construction, differing from types heretofore in common use, substantially only in added machining operations, such as providing bores in the standard yparts thereof, so that dies already in use for forging-such axles and knuckles canbe used further without substantial modification thereof forproduction of axles lubricated according to the invention. l

The objects are attained broadly by an arrangement in which the lubricant inlet for the knuckle is fixed neither directly into the axle nor into the knuckle, but disposedad-jacent the king pin or other knuckle pivot axis on a suitable sustaining member therefor lodged *l0 in a space between the knuckle'and 3X1@ and keyed to the latter.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, I substitute for the usual knuckle thrust bearing, one of the same contour, comprising a thrust disk onthe knuckle and a thrust block of greater thickness rigid with the axle.

The lubricantfrom the axle is admitted'v through the thrust block fixed thereto, whenceit passes to the knuckle bearings. In

0 one embodiment, the `lubricant ladmitted through the thrust block is delivered upwardly through a corresponding passagecarried as a rigid part of the axle .to the vupper end of the knuckle, whence the lubricant iows by gravity downward alongthe structure of;

the knuckle through correspondingfconduits to the knuckle bearings to be lubricated.

In another embodiment, some of the lubricant from the thrust block is fed' downward preferably throughV the thrust diskto thea knuckle. construction for lubricating the lowermost bearing or bearings carried on 'the knuckle. The lubricant inlet ymay be a single drip plug or inlet fitting for supplying lubricant to allof the bearings or two or. morer.v

such drip plugs may be provided in the thrust block, each conveying lubricant through sep- `arate and distinct conduits to di'erentbearings of the knuckle. Y Y

The present application isa division ofi'V my copending applicationSerial No. v59,002

February 25, 193() as -Patent No. 1,748,924 and is particularly concerned with the specific cation but claimed therein only generically.

Vstructure shown in Figs. 4 to Sjef said appli-n.v

vfiled, September28th, 1925 which was issued i In the accompanying drawingsin which to Fig. 1 of another embodiment, and;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken n along the line 5 5 of Fig-4.`

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3 of thedrawings, I have shown an axle beam 10,.through the eye of'vvhich extends a king pin 11 secured `thereto by cross key '12 and bearingJ at its ends in bushings 13. and- 14 in clevis jaws 15 and 16 respectively ofthe knuckle 17 .1 VGlevis jaw 16 is closed at its lower endby a plug 59 below the flower endof the vkingV pim-said plug having a screw plug `59 therein remov- ..100

external configuration, but of the plate type which comprises a disk 18 resting on the lower clevisjaw and having a pin 19 fixed therelin and in a corresponding opening in the lclevisgaw to maintain the disk from rocking therewith. Upon the disk is a thrust block 2O of greater thickness, provided with a radial groove l2Min the upper face thereof,

l' int-o which extends a pin 21 press-fitted in a corresponding depression inthe lower face l Vof the axle beam and serving to key the thrust block to the axle beam. The thrust disk and the thrustblock determine a thrust bearing surface therebetween from which dust is ef- 'fectivelyexcluded by an integral skirt 22 on the block. snugly encircling a substantial part of the thickness ofthe disk 1S.

l The thrust block is here employed also for admission of lubricant to the bearings, pref- Y erably from a centralized lubricating system Yo'n'the motor vehicle, which simultaneouslyV Vserves a multiplicity. of chassis bearings thereon. f For this purpose, I have shown the thrust block provided witha pair of unitary lateral extension sockets 66 and 67 thereon protrudingr toward the, axle beam. An appropriate inlet such as a drip plug 68 of the type shown in the copending application of Edward I-I. Kocher, Serial No. 22,104: filed April ,10, 1925 may be provided in each socket and fed from the central source of pressure. The socket 66 communicates with a port radially through the thrust block -aligned with and delivering into a radial ,bore 26 in the king pin 11, the latter bore -communicatingwith anaxial bore 2J from the 'topuof thel king bore. Y I, A .Y

`To maintain a lubricant-tight joint between thethrust block andthe king pin, so

pin to belowV said radial 'that lubricant passed from the inlet fitting will flow without loss into the king pin, I provide the construction best shown in Fig, 3. A small annular gasket 28 is disposed in a countersink in the inner end of the bore 25 in the thrust block andV said thrust block is split into the two segments 20 and 202 tightly clamped together byjscrews 2. to cause said Segments to grip the king pin iirinly and thereby to compress the gasket tightly into vthe socket 1andagainst the king pin. For

Ves

more'effective tightness, the 'king pin is flattened as at 30 iii theregion of the gasket,

Vof the knuckle.

which is thus not distorted out of its plane but merely compressed in the assembly. The gasket will, accordingly, be effectively compressed witliout injury thereto, a result that could be accomplished only with diiiiculty, if at all, were the ,gasket placed in a unitary thrust block and the king pin driven therethrough for friction lit.

Lubricant that has passed the upper end of the king pin boi'e spreads in the cavity 35 thereabove, which is sealed by the cap 36 on the knuckle and such lubricant will in part seep between the king pin and the bushing 13 to lubricate that bearing, the rest passing about'the bevelled upper edge 37 of the bushing for transmission to the drag link bearing 38. For this purpose, a short tube (not showin) is frictionally-iitted into anl oblique bore in the upper knuckle clevis 15 and a pipe 41 kfriction-'fitted over the protruding end of said tube 39 extends downward therefrom to and along the drag link arm l2 to the eye 43 of the corresponding bearing, all in a manner more clearly disclosed in the parent application Serial No. 59,002. As in the disclosure of the said parent application, the internal diameter of the pipe l1 down to at least the level of the ball outlet, may beisuiiiciently large as appears at Ll1 to permit passage of lubricant Iabout any air therein, thereby precluding air blocking, the conduit Vbelow said level in which lubricant becomes trapped since it extends below the Outlet Li6 being, if desired, of smaller diameter, as shown.

The inlet fitting in socket 67 supplies lubricant to the thrust bearing, to the lower king pin and to the tie rod bearings. The socket 67 to this ends providedv with a cavity 69 of reduced diameter therebeyond, communieating with a vertical bore '.70 leading to the thrust face 72 of the thrust block, which, in

turn, communicates with' a slot 71 inthe thrust disk 18, said slot made arcuate so as to register with the bore in all positions The slot 71 communicates with a longitudinal bore 54 in the lower kclevis aw of the knuckle, which is plugged at its lower end at A pipe 56 is secured by an appropriate terminal 57 to the knuckle,

said pipe extending generally along the structure of the knuckle or alongthe tie rod arm and delivering to the-tierod ball stud i7 Vwhich may be provided with a system of bores (not shown). Immediately above `the plug 59 a small port 60 is'bored to establish communication between the bore 54 and the small well 61 between the lower end ofthe king pinA and the plug 59.

In operation, when pressure is applied at the source (not shown) lubricant admitted to the'control fitting 68 will unseat the usual drip plug check valve `(not shown) and flow into the longitudinal king .pin .bore 27. Lubricant is normally stored inv said bore since it cannot return past the check valve,

iao

so that as lubricant is admitted at the lower end lof bore 27, some will-overflow from the upper end thereof, which will flow in part between the king pin and the bushing 13 to lubricate the corersponding bearing surface and in part about the beveled end 37 of the bushing 13 to drain into the pipe 41-41, for supplying the drag link bearing in manner, in part described above and more fully set forth in the parent application. Lubricant from the socket 67 flows to slot 71 to lubricate the thrust bearing and will also pass into bore 54', the lubricant from bore 54 passing through port 60 and maintaining a common level in the bore and about the lower end of the king pin. Lubricant at the level of the terminal 57 will overflow therethrough, and through pipe 56 to supply the bearing surface of the tie rod bearing. A

In the present embodiment, as in the parent application, the tie rod pipe 56 may be'of diameter suiciently large to permit the ow of lubricant about any air therein whereby air-blocking is precluded.`

To disassemble the construction, the king pin vlock key 12, the Screw plug 59 and the cover plate 36 are removed, the vehicle being supported on a jack. Screws 29 are now either loosened or removed, so that the split bushing 2() will relieve pressure on the king pin, which may now be driven out of place. The knuckle 17 can then be slipped ofi' the axle, in which operation the thrust bearing 18-20 is carried as a unit with it. Since the pin 19 anchors the disk 18 to the knuckle, the skirt 22 prevents lateral separation of block 20 from disk 18, andthe notch 21a permits free movementof block 20 past pin 2,1. The'thrust bearing can then be readily separated into its constituent parts. For assembly, the order of steps set forth is reversed. The lower bearings supplied by the drip plug in socket 67 lare entirely free from any communication with the king pin bore 27 and the relief valve provided as apart of each of the drip plug fittings in the sockets 66 and 67 will act as checkV valve to prevent flow return.

In Figs. 4 and 5, is shown another embodiment more particularly used in connection with an Elliott axle, that is, an axle in which the clevis jaws and 7 6 are a part of the axle beam, and in which the king pin 77 is rigidly secured to the knuckle 78, the ends of the king pin bearing in corresponding bushings 79 and 80, rigidly affixed in the respective axle clevis jaws. I have in this embodiment also shown a construction of substantially conventional design, in which space is afforded for a ball thrust bearing, which I replace by a plate thrust bearing as in the embodiment of Fig. 1, consisting of a disk 81 resting on the knuckle and keyer thereto by a pin 82 in a corresponding depression in the knuckle and a coacting thrust block 83 keyedby a pin 84 fixed in the yaxle clevis aw 75 and extendino' into radial groove 84 in the thrust block, substantially as in the other embodiments. The block is of construction identical with that previously described, but is clamped about the upper bushing 79 which is a rigid part ofthe axle, rather than about the king pin, which in this construction, pivots with the knuckle; The arrangement of liquidtight gasket 85 is similar to that previously described, except that it effects a tight joint to a bore 86 longitudinally through the upper bushing, which bushing is made ofsuiicient thickness to accommodate suchbore. kThe king pin is formed with a trough 87 at its upper end and has a longitudinal bore 88 extending part of the length thereof.V The king pin bore" delivers lubricant to one of the knuckle control bearings, in this instance, illustratively the drag link. For this purpose, I have illustratively shown a= special form of king pin locking key 89, which serves also as a duct forlubricant fromthe king pin I Y to be admitted to the drag link. The key 89 kin this instance, is formed as a plug, threaded into the knuckle,'and having a beveled end 90 taper-fitted into a corresponding socket in the king pin. The plug 89 isformed with a longitudinal bore 91 and bushing 92 is threaded into the outer end thereof, for tightening a compression coupling 92 by which alubricant-tight connection is effected lfrom the plug 89 to a pipe 93 extending downward and along the drag link tothe ball pivot stud 94 thereof. To deliver lubricant to the tie rod bearing 95, I have in this instance provided thel upper bushing' 79 with ya longitudinal groove 96 at its outer` periphery extending through the entire height thereof, and'communicating with a vhole 971in the thrust disk j 81, which hole ismade arcuate to register with the bushing bore in all positions of steeri adjustment of the knuckle. The hole 97 communicates with a short bore'98 aligned' therewith, in thel knuckle Y7 8, `which bore drains through a compression coupling terminal 99 similar to terminal 92-92", into a pipe 100 extendingalong the knuckle structure and delivering into the tie rod pivot stud, `95. The constructionof bores through the tie rod and drag link pivot studs are not shown in Fig. 4. 'i

Inasmuch as they king pinv lockingplug is shown at a level no higher than that of the `drag link bearing, the entirelength of .con-

duit 93 connected therebetween may be of small diameter, 'and the king .pin bore 88 may be of relatively large diameter to permit the flow Vof lubricant therethrough about any air therein, air Vblocking being thereby prevented.

. VThe king pinis preferably provided with a fiat 101 along a substantial part of the length thereof through whichV lubricant can drain from the. bushingfj79 'to lubricate the lower `bushing 80.v

in operation, lubricant admitted past the drip plug 68 whichis rigid with the axle, will rise through bore 86 to the upper end of bushing 7 9. vSome of tlie lubricant will drain into the trough ST-and through bore 88 into bore 91 in the lock plug 89, thence through conduit 93 to supply the drag link bearing 94. Lubricant will also flow through groove 96 downward along the upper bushing, part escaping through the minute space between the bushing and the disk to spread along the thrust bearing surface, between disk 8l and block 83, and along hat lOl to the bearing of the lower bushing 80, the rest passing -through aperture 97 into knuckle bore 98 and thence by way of terminal 99 into pipe 100 to supply the tie rod bearing. The king pin being inclined as shown, trough 87 isrmade to protrude above the bushing 79, to assure correctness of division. between bore V88 and groove 96, the upperend of said groove being at substantially the samelevelas the right or lowest part of the outer rim of trough 87. It

is found that sutliciently accurate division of lubricant is obtained by the construction described, but if desired, the bores of one or both ofthe conduit lines 93 and 100 may have `restriction pins therein to limit the lubricant delivered therethrough.

generically any of the bearings at the knuckle by which an operating' adjustment on the knuckle or the wheel thereon is effected Yor transmitted from one to the other knuckle.

I claim-4 l1. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a knuckle carrying a pair of bearings, one of said members having a clevis straddling the other, a thrust bearing member sustaining the axle on the knuckle, aV king pin rigid with the straddled member and'bearing in the clevis j aws of the straddling member, a pair of lubricant inlets rigid with the axle and substantially contiguous to said thrust bearing, one of said inlets communieating with ay bore extending therefrom axially upward along the king` pin, a conduit in iiow intercepting relationship with res'aect to lubricant throuo'h said bore and extending along the structure of the knuckle toone of the bearings thereof, the other inlet drainingacross the plane of the thrust bearing surface of the knuckle and a conduit along the structure of the'knuckle conveying the lubricant therefrom. to the other bearing.

2. The combination set forth in claim l in which the inlets comprise drip plug littings in corresponding sockets formed in a thrust bearing Vblock keyed with respect to the axle and in which agasket in said thrust bearing block effects a lubricant-tight connection therefrom to the bore. o

8. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an

axle having a clevis, a knuckle straddled by `draining in part to the upper king pin vbearing surface and in part through a bore longitudinally through the king pin and a duct `v carried by said knuckle and conveying lubricant from said king pin bore to one of the knuckle bearing surfaces. i

Il. In a motor vehicle,.in combination, an axle having a clevis, a knuckle straddled by Said clevis and having bearing surfaces, a

king pin through said knuckle heldrigid therewith, bushings rigid with the jaws of said clevis, aifordingbearings for the ends of V said king pin, a thrust bearing interposed between Vthe upper clevis jaw and the knuckle, said thrust bearing comprising a bearing disk keyed to the knuckle, 'and a bearing vblock keyed to the clevis, a lubricant inlet fitting carried by the bearing block, a longitudinal borethrough the upper kingpin bushing supplied fromsaid inlet, means effecting a lubricant-tight joint between rsaid thrust block and said bore, a longitudinal bore through said king pin supplied through said bushing bore and a conduit supplied from said bore, carried by said knuckle and leading to la bearing surface of the knuckle.

5. In a motor vehicle, in combination. an axle having a clevis, a knuckle straddled by said clevis and having bearing surfaces, a king pin-'through said knuckle held rigid therewith, bushings rigid with said clevis affording bearings for said king pin, a thrust bearing interposed between the upper nclevis jaw and the knuckle, said thrust bearing comprising a bearing disk keyed to the knuckle and a bearing block keyed to the clevis jaw, a lubricant inlet fitting carried by the bearing block, a longitudinal bore through the upper king pin bushing supplied from saidA inlet, a. second longitudinal bore extending the height of`l said bushing and delivering through'a port in said thrust bearing to a bore in the knuckleand a conduitcarried by neonata the knuckle conveying lubricantV from said bore to a bearing surface of said knuckle;

6. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle having a clevis, a knuckle straddled by said clevis with a plurality o f bearing surfaces, a king pin through said knuckle held rigid therewith, bushings rigid with thejaws of said clevis affording bearings for said king pin, a thrust bearing interposed between the, Y

upper clevis jaw and the knuckle comprising a bear-ing disk keyed to the knuckle and a bearing block keyed to the clevis jaw, a lubricant inlet fitting carried by the bearing block, a longitudinal lbore through the upper king pin bushingsupplied from said inlet, means e'ecting a lubricant-tightfjoint :between said thrust block and said bore, a longitudinal bore through said kingpin supplied from said 4bushing bore, a conduit supplied from said king pin bore, carriedby said knuckle and leading to vone of'the bearing surfaces of the knuckle, a longitudinal passag'way through the length of the bushing,

a y'port through the thrust bearing communieating therewith and a pipe supplied from said port carried by the knuckle and extending to another bearing surface thereof.

7 In a motor vehicle, in combinatioma clevised axle, a `steering knuckle pivoted thereto and straddled by said clevis, an annular member serving as a lubricant inlet and interposed between said knuckle and said clevis, and a conduit system carried by said knuckle and supplied from said inlet annulus to convey lubricant to one or more of the knuckle bearings.

8. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a knuckle having a pivotal mount thereat, control bearings for the knuckle, a thrust bearing sustaining said axle upon' said knuckle and including a member rigid with the axle and means for supplying lubricant to said control bearings comprising an inlet fitting carried by said thrust bearing member beyond the bearing surface, a passageway within parts of the structure rigid with the axle, leading upward from the thrust bearing and a plurality of flow dividing conduits in flow intercepting relationship with respect t'o the lubricant transmitted through said passageway leading along the structure of the knuckleto said control bear- It In a vmotor vehicle of thetype including an axle and a knuckle, one of said members having a clevisstraddling -the other, and a king pin affording arbearing with Yrespectl to the clevis and rigid with the straddled member, the jaws of said clevis beingspaced by a distance greater than the width'of the straddled member to affordroom for a thrust bearing; the combination therewith of la thrust bearing comprising a pair of coacting members, one rigid with the knuckle and the other rigid with the axle, the latter memconduits vcommunicm-,ing with an lznrfaia'te loerl having substantial thickness, lubrica'ntj inlet means affixed laterally-,in said latter member, a longitudinal passageway extendjing from said inlet fitting upward throughy parts rigid-with said axle andmeans in fiw intercepting relationship with respect to lli b'ricaint through said passageway Vfor lubri-\ cat-ing the thrust bearing. v ,v l Y A 10. In a steering'axle of the type including a beam, a knuckle coacting 'with the end there-- of and 'having bearing surfaces,one of said members having a clevis straddling the other and a king pin rigid with the straddled mein'- ber and affording abearing surface at the ends thereof for the knuckle member, thefcl'eyis jaws ybeing spaced by a distance'materially greater than'the `interposed lengthf of the straddled member, to afford roo'm -for'athru's'tl bearing; Vthe vcombination 'therewith' of "a thrust Ib'e'aring; including fa bcz'rin 2vk block rigidi withthe axle with an annularjlip' encircling-th'e thrust bearing face, a lubricantj inlet fitting affixed to the lateral face of said,- block, ai passageway inthe structure with Vsaid axle terminatingnear the upper' end ofthe knuckle receivingv lubricant from said inlet and a conduit carried 'the knuckle leading'to bearing surfaces thereof in -fiow inte'rceptingy relationship 'with the lower end of said passageway.' i

ll. In a steering axle of theV type includ'-j ing a beam, a knuckle coacting with the end' thereof and having bearing surfaces, oneof y said members having a clevis straddlingthe other,'a king pinrigid with the. straddled 100 member and affording a bearing surface at the ends thereof'for the knuckle member, the Y clevis jaws being spaced by distance ma-`v terially greater than the interposed length of the straddled member to yafford room for va thrust bearing; the combination therewith of a thrust bearing rincludinga plate rigid with the knuckle, a' .coacting block rigid with the axle, said block-having an annular'lip encircling the plate to render the bearing face Vsubstantially dust-tight, `a lubricant inlet fitting affixed in the lateral surface of lsaid block, said bearing block beingalso splitand having a radial inletpassage for entr-yjof lubricant, screws d'rawingfthl split partst-f gether against a'partfr'igid with thea'xle, 'ai gasket about ythe inletr passage andat the `i inner end thereof compressed against said axle part, a passageway in structure rigid with said axle communicating with said inletj passage and terminating near the upperien'd of the knuckle', a. conduit systemY carried by Vtheknuckle leading to bearing surfaces thereof in flow intercepting relationship'l with the upper end of said passageway,"one of said transverse groove at the bearing uface [of the thrust bearing. I p l v l2. In a motor vehicle, in combinatioman axle,- a' knucklehav'ing a pivot;V mount-with respect thereto and having bearing surfaces, One of said members having a clevis, a thrust bearing between one of the jaws of said clevis and the other member, said thrust bearing including a thrust disk keyed to the knuckle and a coacting thrust block keyed with respect to the axle and means for conveying lubricant from the axle axle, a knuckle having bearing surfaces, aV

king pin,a thrust bearing'interposed between the axle and the knuckle including a bearing plate keyed tok the knuckle and a bearing block coacting therewithand keyed tothe axle, a lubricant inlet fitting secured in said bearing block and delivering into a bore longitudinally o-f and extending through the top of the king pin and a pipe in flow intercepting relationship with said bore extendinggenerally downward along the'structure of the knuckle to a bearing surface thereof said' bore and said pipe being so arranged in respect to said .inlet ttingthat there is a continuously open passage from said fitting to saidv bearing. v

14. In a steering axle of the type including a beam, a knuckle coacting with the end thereof and carrying control bearings, one of said members having a clevis straddling the other, a king pin rigid with the straddled member and affording a bearing surface at, the ends thereof for the knuckle member,'the clevis jaws being spaced by a distance materially greater than the interposed length of the straddled member toafford room for a thrust bearing; the combination therewith of a thrust bearing including a plate rigid with the knuckle,ka block rigid with the axle, the block having an annular lip encircling the lower to :render the construction substantially dust-tight, a plurality of lubricant inlet fittings aiiixed in the lateral face of said block, passageways in structure rigid with said axle and knuckle respectively and conduits Vin flow intercepting relationship tosaid passageways for delivering lubricant to the respective knuckle control bearings.

= 115. As an article of manufacture, a lubricated thrust bearing for a steering knuckle including a'split annular block, means for holding together the two segments of the blockand lan annular bearing disk cooperating with a Vsurface of said block, and having a plurality of sockets in the lateral surface of the block for lubricant inlet fittings,

lateral bores communicating with the inner portions of said sockets, one of which extends ;entire'lythrough one side of the block andthe other of which only extends partially therethrough and' a vertical boreu through said block and said plate communicating with said partial bore.`

16; .As an article of manufacture, a lubricatedthrust bearing for a steering knuckle including a split annular block with a radial boss along a diameter at right angles to the splittingl diameter, meansl holding the two segments of thev block together and an annular bearing disk cooperating with said block, and having a socket insaid boss to receive a lubricant 'inlet fitting and aradial bore y communicating with the inner vportion ofsaid socket passing .through the annular disk and open: ng on ,the inner surface thereof.

17. As anarticle of manufacture, a lubricated thrust bearing for a steering vknuckle including a, split annular block, means holding the two segmentsof the block together and an annular bearing disk cooperating with said block, said block having a socket to receive a lubricant inlet iitting, a bore communicating with the inner portion of said socket Aand an arcuate slot in they diskin lubricant intercepting relationship with respect to said inlet socket.

18. In a motor vehicle of the type including an axle, a steering knuckle, a king pin fixedl to one of said elements and aclevis fixed to the other of saidelements, the jaws of which encircle andv bear upon the ends of the king pin; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising a. lubricant inlet substantially belowthe top ofthe king pin, a substantially vertical passageway upwardly from said inlet along the outside of the king pinto the upper end thereof and another substantially vertical pasageway along the @outside of the king pin spaced from the first mentioned passageway and in lubricant intercepting relationship to the first mentioned passageway across the top of the king pin.V Y. Y e

19. In ahmotor vehicle of the type incuding an axle, a Steering knuckle, a king pin fixedto one of said elements anda clevis fixed to thel other of said elements, the jawsof which encircle and bear upon the .ends lof the lking pin; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising a pair of- .spaced vertical passageways` along the outsideof the king pin,`an axial bore through the king pin and an inlet substantially below the top of the king pin in lubricant admitting relationship to one of said outside pas. sageways and said other outside passageway and said king pin bore being in lubricant intercepting'relationship to the first mentioned outside passageway.

20. Inmotor vehicle ofthe type including an axle, a steering knuckle, a. vking pin fixed to'one of saidelements and a clevis fixed to the otherof said elements, the jaws of 'whichencircle andvbear upon theends of the kingpin; the combination therewithof va lubricating installation comprising a pair of spaced substantially vertical passageways along the outside of the king pn through a structure rigid with the clevis, a pair oi spaced substantially vertical passageways through the king pin structure, a passageway through the knuckle and an inlet admitting lubricant to one of the outside passageways, the other of said outside passageways and one of the king pin passageways being in flow intercepting relationship with respect to said inlet passageway and the other king pin and knuckle passageways being in flow intercepting relationship with respect to said second mentioned outside passageway.l

21. in a motor vehicle of the type includ- -ing an axle, a steering knuckle, a king pin fixed to one ot said elements, a clevis fixed to the other of said elements, the jaws of which encircle and bear upon the ends of the king pin and a bushing between the upper end of the king pin and the corresponding encircling jaw of the clevis; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising an axial bore through the king pin, passageways through the bushing parallel thereto, al bore through the knuckle structure and an inlet, one of said bushing passageways being adapted to receive lubricant from said inlet and supply it to the axial king pin bore and the other bushing passageway a-nd the knuckle bore being adapted to receive lubricant from the second mentioned bushing passageway.

22. In a motor vehicle of the type including an axle, a stering knuckle, a ykingpin fixed to one of said elements, a clevis fixed to the other of said elements, the jaws of which encircle and bear upon the ends of the king pin and annular bearing members fixed respectively to the upper clevis jaw and the top of the knuckle structure; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising an inlet bore through one of said annular members on one side of the king pin, a bore through the other of said annular inembers at the other side of the king pin and passageways through the knuckle structure establishing communication between said bores. v

23. In a motor vehicle of the type including an axle, a knuckle, a king pin iixed to one of said elements and a clevis fixed to the other of said elements, the aws of which encircle and bea-r upon the ends of the king pin; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising a socketed annulus between the upper clevis jaw and the structure to which the king pin is fixed, a

lubricant inlet fitting in said socket and a conduit system associated with said knuckle in lubricant intercepting relationship with said inlet fitting.

24. In a motor vehicle of the type includ-k ing an axle, a knuckle having bearing surfaces, a king pin iixed to one of said elements and a clevisfixed to the other of said elements,the jaws of which encircle and bear vupon thev ends of the king pin; the combination therewith of a lubricating installation comprising a double socketed `ring between said clevis aws encircling the king pin, inlet -fittings in said sockets. and a conduit system 1n lubricant intercepting relationship therewith including two conduits respectively in communication with said fittings for the purpose of conducting lubricant to bearing surfaces associated with said knuckle.

25. In a motor vehicle of the type including an axle eye, a. king pin fixed therein and V protruding on either side thereof and a clevised knuckle having `bearing surfaces, the

bearing surfaces associated with said knuckle.

26. In a motor vehicle of the type including an axle, a knuckle having bearing surfaces, a. king ypin iixed to one of said elements and an annular thrust bearing structure encircling the king pin, supporting the axle and the knuckle and having elements rigid with Vthe axle and knuckle; the combination there- `with of a lubricating installation comprising a lubricant inlet in the element of the thrust bearing rigid lwith the axle, a passageway through the knuckle leading to a bearing sur- Y face on the knuckle and a substantially unrestricted passageway leading from' said inlet jaws of whichencircle and bear upon the y to said knuckle passageway.

' Signed at New York inthe county of New York and State of New York this 6th day of June A. D. Y,

THOMAS R. THOMAS. 

